Legging.



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LEGGING.

APPLICATON FILED OCT. 2, |916- Mar. 27, 1917.

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FRED H. WHEELER AND CHARLES R. HGLCOMB, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Lneerne.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led October 2, 1916. Serial No. 123,208.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, FRED H. WHEELER and CHARLES R. HoLooMn, both citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful 1mprovement in Leggings, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to an improved legging for the use of molders for protecting the lower part of the leg from molten iron or for use by others engaged in occupations making it desirable to protect the lower part of the leg and the lower part of the trousers from the burning or corrosive action of materials which are being handled'by the workmen with the possibility of the burning or corrosive materials coming in contact with the lower part of the leg.

Our invention more specifically consists of a legging constructed from fabric or leather treated with fire-proofing compound or not, as de ired, and supported by a metallic framework of novel construction as will appear more clearly from the detailed description of the drawings below, which present one embodiment of our invention.

@ur improved legging is quickly applied to the leg of the user and may be instantly removed therefrom if desired and affords complete protection against the action of burning or corrosive materials which may be spilled or come in contact with the legging.

Uur invention will be more clearly understood from the accompanying drawings, presenting one embodiment thereof, in which Figure 1 shows in a perspective view the complete legging, and

Fig. 2 shows in developed inside view the legging construction shown in Fig. 1 with the lower foot protecting portion removed.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in the drawings, the legging consists of a sheet of leather or fabric 1 provided with a plurality of reinforcing strips of metal, indicated generically by 2 in lfig. 1, which extend both longitudinally and laterally of the legging. At the lower portion of the sheet of material 1 a foot protecting portion or flare 3 is secured, shaped to cover the upper part of the shoe of the user, this flare being constructed either of fabric or leather, as desired, and fastened Vto the lower end of the sheet of material 1 by rivets or stitching as preferred. The metal reinforcing' strips are more clearly shown in Fig. 2 at G, 7, 3,- '9, 13, 14 an'd 15. rThe strips G, 7, 8, 9 and 13 extend longitudinally of the legging and of these strips the strips G, 7, 8 and 9 are preferably contained in pockets formed by hemming the left hand edge of the sheet of material 1 and sewing strips of fabric or similar material 10, 11 and 12 to the inside of the sheet of material 1 as indicated in Fig. 2. 1t will be observed that the rows of stitching indicated along the edges of the strips 10, 11 and 12 terminate below the strip of metal 15 and above the strip of metal 14 and that the strips of fabric or other material 10, 11 and 12 are sewed, as indicated by the heavy dotted lines, at their ends to the sheet of material 1, the stitching at the upper ends of the strips 10, 11 and 12 being put in place after the strips of metal 7, 8 and 9 have been inserted. As a result of the stitching described the strips of material 10, 11 and. 12 form loops through which the reinforcing strips or bands 14 and 15 may be inserted.

The bands 14e and 15 are preferably of spring material and circular in form or nearly so, and after the ystitching referred to above has been completedthese spring bands 14 and 15 are threaded through the loops at the points marked a and the ends of these spring bands are secured to the longitudinal stii'fening members 6 and 13 by rivets, as indicated, which extend through the sheet of material 1. Additional rivets may be inserted through the stiffening 1nembers 6 and 13 and the sheet of material 1 if desired, as indicated.

1t will be noted that the vertical stiifening members G and 13 extend below the lower edge of the sheet of material 1 and are provided with holes for receiving rivets as indicated in Fig. 1 for securing to these stifteners the rear edges of the flaring portion 3 of the legging which may be secured to the lower edge of the sheet of material 1 by stitching or rivets, as desired. rilhe right hand edge of the sheet of material 1, as indicated in Fig. 2, is extended beyond the longitudinal stiffening member' 13 to form a Hap 5 which, when the legging is placed upon the leg of the user, is placed around the leg inside of the stiifening member 6 which holds it in position through the action of the spring members 14 and 15. As a vresult of this construction'the legging may V number of plaits 4, so that the upper edge of the legging when in use presses'closely against the trouser ofthe user so as to prevent acid Vor molten metal from passing downward Vinside of the upper end of the legging between the legging and the trouser leg of the user. To further provide a tight closure between the upper edge of the legging and the trouser leg underneath it, a drawstring 16 may be employed, if desired,

' by which the upper edge of the legging may be securely tied in place which, under some conditions, is desired particularly if there is small prospect of being obliged to unexpectedly and quickly remove the legging.

While it is desirable to employ the pockets l0, 11 and 12 for receiving the longitudinal stiffeners 7, 8 and 9 respectively, these pockets may be omitted if a' less finished legging is satisfactory, .andrivets may be employed at the points indicated by the letter a to hold the stiffening members in position upon the sheet of material l.

llVe are aware that protective leggings have heretofore been constructed in ditlen ent forms, some ofv which contemplate the e use of metal stiffening members, but as far as we are aware', we are the irst to produce a legging of this kind in which the stiftening members are secured to the sheet of protective material by a pocket construction as described, and as farI aswevare aware, we are also the lirst to produce a legging of the kind referred to in which the upper edge is formed to tightly engage the trouser leg of the user,1sothat molten metal or acid cannot flow downward'between the legging and the trouser leg and, furthermore, we believe our construction to be novel in providing longitudinal stilfening members which are extended downwardly to reinforce a liaring foot protecting portion to hold the latter in its proper shape.

TvVe do not, therefore, limit ourselves to the exact construction shown in the drawings, but desire to cover by the appended claims;v all equivalents thereof known to the art at the time of theiiling of this ap|plication.

' lVhat we claim is:

1. ln a legging,the combination of a sheet of V{iexible protective material, flexible strips secured to said sheet of material forming in connection therewith pockets extending longitudinally of the legging, metal stili'ening members contained in said pockets, said strips of flexible material being secured at their ends to said sheet of protective material and separate from said sheet of ma* terial intermediate of their ends foiming loops adjacent the ends of the metal stiliening members, spring reinforcing members extending circumferentially of the legging through said loops, and longitudinal metal stiifeners secured to the ends of said spring reinforcing members and to said sheet of material.

2. In a legging, the combination of a sheet of flexible protective material, i'iexible strips secured to said sheet of material forming m connection therewith pockets extending longitudinally of the legging, metal stiiicning members contained in said pockets, said strips of iiexible material being secured at their ends to said sheet of protective material and separate from said sheet of material intermediate of their ends forming loops adjacent the ends of the metal still'ening members, spring reinforcing members extending circumferentially of the legging through said loops, longitudinal metal still'- eners secured to the ends of said spring reinforcing members and to said sheet of n1aterial, said last named longitudinal stillening members extending beyond the lower edge of said sheet of material, and a flaring shoe protecting portion secured to the piojecting ends of said stiliening members and to the lower edge of said sheet of protective material.

3. 1n a legging, the combination of a sheet of flexible protective material, flexible strips secured to said sheet of material forming in connection therewith pockets extending longitudinally of the legging, metal stillening members contained in said pockets, said strips of flexible material being secured at their ends to said sheet of protective material and separate from said sheet of material intermediate of their ends forming loops adjacent the ends of the metal stillening members, spring reinforcing members extending circumferentially of the legging through said loops, and longitudinal metal stiifeners secured to the ends of said spring reinforcing members and said sheet of material, said sheet of protective material bcing extended laterally beyond the longitudinal stiffening member connected with one end of the spring reinforcing members to form a Hap held in place on the leg of the user by the longitudinal stililiening member at the opposite edge of the legging.

4. ln a legging, the combination of a sheet of flexible protective material, iexible strips secured to said sheet of material forming in connection therewith pockets extending longitudinally of the legging, metal stillening members contained in said pockets, said strips of flexible material being secured at their ends to said sheet of protective material and separate from said sheet of inaterial intermediate of their ends forming loops adjacent the ends of the metal stiening membe ls, spring reinforcing members extending oircumferentially of the legging through said loops, longitudinal metal stifleners secured to the ends of said spring reinforcing members and to said sheet of material, said last 'named longitudinal stidlening members extending beyond the lower edge of said sheet of material, and a flaring shoe protecting portion secured to the projecting ends of said stiffening members and to the lower edge of said sheet of protective material, said sheet of protective material being extended laterally beyond the longitudinal still'ening member connected with one end of the spring reinforcing members to form a flap held in place on the leg of the user by the longitudinal stitfening member at the opposite edge of the legging.

5. In a legging, the combination of a sheet of flexible protective material, flexible strips secured to said sheet of material forming in connection therewith pockets extending lon itudinally of the legging, metal stiftening members contained in said pockets, said strips of flexible material being secured at their ends to said sheet of protective material and separate from said sheet of material intermediate of their ends forming loops adjacent the ends of the metal stillen ing members, spring reinforcing members extending circumferentially of the legging through said loops, and longitudinal metal stiffeners secured to the ends of said spring reinforcing members and to said sheet of material, said sheet of protective material extending without metal reinforcement above the upper spring reinforcing member and'being taken in around its upper edge to closely lit the leg of the user.

6. ln a legging, the combination of a sheet of flexible protective material, `liexible strips secured to said sheet of material forming in connection therewith pockets extendingV longitudinally of the legging, metal stiifening members contained -in said pockets, said strips of flexible material being secured at their ends to said sheet of protective material and separate from said sheet of material intermediate of their ends forming loops adjacent the ends of the metal stilfening members, spring reinforcing members extending circumferentially of the legging through said loops, longitudinal metal stifleners secured to the ends of said spring reinforcing members and to said sheet of material, said last named longitudinal stiflening members extending beyond the lower edge of said sheet of material, and a flaring shoe protecting portion secured to the projecting ends of said stiffening members and to the lower edge of said sheet of protective material, said sheet of protective material extending without metal reinforcement above the upper spring reinforcing member and being taken in around its upper edge to closely lit the leg of the user.

7. ln a legging, the combination of a sheet of flexible protective material, flexible strips secured to said sheet of material forming in connection therewith pockets extending longitudinally of the legging, metal stitlening members contained in said pockets, said strips of flexible material being secured at Vtheir ends to said sheet of protective material and separate from said sheet of material intermediate of their ends forming loops adjacent the ends of the metal stiil'ening members, spring reinforcing members extending circumferentially of the legging through said loops, and longitudinal metal stiifeners secured to the ends of said spring reinforcing members and to said sheet of material, said sheet of protective material being extended laterally beyond the longitudinal stiffening member connected with one end of the spring reinforcing members to form a ilap held in place on the leg of the user by the longitudinal stiifening member at the opposite edge of the legging, said sheet of protective material extending without metal reinforcement above the upper spring reim forcing member and being taken in around its upper edge to closely fit the leg of the user.

8. ln a legging, the combination of a sheet of flexible protective material, flexible strips secured to said sheet of material forming in connection therewith pockets extending longitudinally of the legging, metal stiftening members contained in said pockets, said strips of flexible material being secured at their ends to said sheet of protective inaterial and separate from said sheet of material intermediate of their ends forming loops adjacent the ends of the metal stilfening members, spring reinforcing members extending circumferentially ofthe legging through said loops, longitudinal metal stil'l'- eners secured to the ends of said spring reinforcing members and to said sheet of material, said last named longitudinal stiffening members extending beyond the lower edge of said sheet of material, and a flaring shoe protecting portion secured to the projecting ends of said stiifening members and to the lower edge of said sheet of protective material, Ysaid sheet of protective material being extended laterally beyond the lon gitudinal stiffening member connected with one end of the spring reinforcing members to form a flap held in place on the leg of the user by the longitudinal stiffening member at the opposite edge o f the legging, said a sheet of protective material extending without metal reinforcement above the upper stiliening members contained in said pockets, said strips of flexible material being secured at their ends to said sheet of protective material and'separate from said sheet of material intermediate of their ends forming loops adjacent the ends of the metal stif'fening members, spring reinforcing members Vextending circumferentially of the legging through said loo-ps, longitudinal metal stiffeners secured to the ends of said spring reinforcing members and' to said sheet of material, said sheet of protective material extending without metal reinforcement 'above the upper; spring yreinforcing mem ber, and a draw-string extending through vthe upper edge of said sheet of protective material for securely fastening said upper 'edge around the leg of the user.

10. In a legging, the combination of a sheet of'flexible protective material, flexible 4strips secured to said sheet of material Y forming in connection therewith pockets ex- 'tending longitudinally of the legging, metal stiifening members contained in said pockets,

said strips of flexible material being secured at their ends to said sheetof protective material and `,separate from said sheetof material intermediate of their ends forming c i loops adjacent-the ends of the metal stiening ,members spring reinforcing members extending cirumferentially of the legging through said loops, longitudinal metal stiffeners secured to the ends of said spring Yreinforcing members. and to said sheet of V material,l saidsheet of protective material Ybeing extended laterally beyond the longitudinal stiffening member connected with one endof the spring reinforcing members -to form a Yflap held in place on the leg of the user bythe longitudinal stiffeningY member at the opposite edge of the legging, said sheet of protective Vmaterial extending without metal reinforcement above the upper Y spring `reinforcing. member, and a drawstring extending through the upper edge of said sheet of protective material for se- Y curely fastening said upper edge around theleg of the user.

Gopiesrof this patent niay 'ne obtained for 11. In a legging, the combination of a sheet of flexible protective material, a plurality of longitudinal metal stiifening members, upper and lower spring reinforcing members extending laterally of said sheet and substantially circular in form, and devices connecting said reinforcing members together and to said sheet of material, said sheet of material extending above said upper spring reinforcing member without metal reinforcement and being taken in at its upper edge to closely fit the leg of the user.

1:2. In a legging, the combination of a sheet of flexible protective material, a plurality o-f longitudinal metal stiil'ening meinbers the outer ones of which are connected with said sheet of material, and upper and lower spring reinforcing members extending laterally of said sheet to encircle the leg of the user and connected with said sheet of material, said sheet of material extending laterally beyond one of the outer stifiening members to form a flap held in place on the leg of the user by the other one of said outer stiifening members.

13. In a legging, the combination of a sheet of flexible protective material, a plurality of longitudinal metal stiifening members, upper and lower spring reinforcing members extending laterally of said sheet and substantially circular in form, devices connecting said reinforcing members together and to said sheet of material, said sheet of material extending above said upper spring reinforcing member without metal reinforcement, and a draw-string extending through the upper edge of said sheet of protective material for securely fastening the same to the leg of the user.

14:. In alegging, the combination of a sheet of flexible protective material, a plurality of longitudinal metal stiffening members the outer ones of which are connected with said sheet of material, upper and lower spring reinforcing members extending l'aterally of said sheet to encircle the leg of the user and connected with said sheet of material, and a Haring shoe protecting portion secured to the lower edge of said sheet of material, the outer ones of said stiften* ing membersV being extended below said sheet of material and secured to said flaring portion.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 28th day of September, A. D. 1916.

FRED I-I. WHEELER. CHARLES R. HOLCOMB.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

